Tunable dimension of atomic Pt cluster decoration on Co oxide supported Pd nanoparticle as single nanoparticle reactor for oxygen reduction reaction

Tsan-Yao Chen^1*, Sheng Dai², Jyh-Pin Chou³, Kuan-Wen Wang⁴

¹Department of Engineering and System Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
²School of Chemistry & Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
³Department of Physics, National Changhua University of Education, Changhua, Taiwan
⁴Institute of Materials Science and Engineering, National Central University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
⁵Department of mechanical and biomedical engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China

* Presenter:Tsan-Yao Chen, email:chencaeser@gmail.com

A new concept heterogeneous catalyst is proposed by decorating atomic clusters with tunable number of atoms on the heterogeneous catalysts for redox reactions. Such a design enables the interaction between atomic clusters in different intermediate steps. Those interactions simultaneously facilitate the reaction kinetics of all steps, as a result, leading to a quantum leap on the catalytic performance of redox reaction with a few nanometer regimes. We demonstrate that the dimension of the surface decoration can be manipulated down to atomic scale. Apart from using noble metals, atomic scaled Pt clusters were employed to improve the oxygen reduction reaction performance of catalysts. Those clusters are decorated in surface defect regions of Co oxide supported Pd nanoparticles (CoOx-Pd) by using self-aligned nanocrystal growth followed by atomic quench with strong reduction agent. They localize electrons from the neighboring atoms and thus boost the activity of CoOx-Pd in ORR. With a proper reaction time and loading control, the Pt cluster decorated CoOx-Pd enhance its mass activity by 340 times as compared to that of commercial Pt catalysts in an alkaline electrolyte of 1.0M KOH.

Keywords: Oxygen Reduction Reaction, Atomic Clusters, heterogeneous catalysts